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James is a very strong rider and cycled some pretty long distances on his trip across the Nullarbor. How far you go per day will really come down to your fitness, so test yourself with some rides before heading out to get a good idea of what you'll be capable of doing. Many cycle tourers do about 70-120km a day and very fit riders would push for more to get through faster (there's not a lot to distract you along the way either). If you are taking it at a slower place, you'll need to carry more supplies and particularly water. Plan your trip well to estimate how long it will take you between truck stops and always prepare yourself for the chance that your trip might not go according to plan – the wind can get pretty strong along here, meaning there might be a day or two that you don't get very far.

As for bike parts, I carry pretty much a full light-weight tool kit when I'm touring. As a bare minimum, have a spare tube, patch kit, tyre levers, chain links and chain breaker, the relevant allen keys for your bike and a spoke wrench. There are plenty other things you can take if you feel like carrying them and know how to do your own bike repairs, but 98% of the time you won't need them. Perhaps have a good bike mechanic look over your bike before heading out and you'll likely have a smooth ride without any mechanical hiccups. Take some duct tape and zip ties for emergency repairs – between the two you can repair almost anything.

Energy foods: energy gels and supplements can be handy but they can be expensive and are hard to get a hold of in remote areas and many tourers don't use them. Perhaps take a few lollies (Natural Confectionary Snakes are a popular choice) and museli bars, dried fruit (sultanas, apricots and prunes), nuts and some chocolate. Oats or museli make a good start to the day. Snack regularly to avoid hypogycemia, especially if your body isn't conditioned for long strenuous days. If you like sports drinks, you can carry powder to add to your water.

Cycle Traveller is the online bicycle touring blog for routes, maps, resources and news about cycling around Australia. Be inspired, connect with other cyclists and plan your adventure! Founded in 2012, the Cycle Traveller community is continually growing. If you have a story to tell, information to share or a question to ask, please contact us. You can share information via our forum, or send us an email. Happy riding!